10 reasons to listen to Classic FM in 2015

1. Spend New Year's Eve in Vienna

The Full Works Concert, Wednesday 31 December 8pm. Catherine Bott pops open a bottle of champagne and gets Classic FM’s New Year celebrations under way with two hours of fizzing waltzes and overtures from the city of music. Picture: Getty

2. Find out who was the best-selling classical artist of the year

The Classic FM Chart of the Year, New Year's Day 5pm. What were the most successful classical albums of 2014? John Brunning reveals the Top 30 bestsellers of the year just ended, and what's the betting that there are one or two entries from Andre Rieu?
Picture: Getty

3. Make a date with Alex James - and George Gershwin

Alex James's Date Night, Saturdays 7pm. Every Saturday night, Alex James looks at the most important dates in the classical music world – from birthdays and anniversaries to musical premieres and 'on this day' events. Join him for his first show of 2015 on 3 January when he'll be shining the spotlight on 'Rhapsody in Blue', which George Gershwin began writing 90 years ago this week.

4. Vote in the 20th Classic FM Hall of Fame

Voting opens on 12 January for the 2015 Classic FM Hall of Fame, our 20th annual chart of the nation's favourite classical music. Last year Vaughan Williams's 'The Lark Ascending' flew to the top, unseating Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2. Which great work will be this year's No.1?

5. Discover Sibelius at 150

David Mellor, Sunday 11 January 7pm. 2015 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Finland's greatest son, Jean Sibelius. David Mellor kicks off the year's celebrations with a look at this great composer of seven symphonies, an evergreen violin concerto, 'Finlandia' and 'Valse triste'.

6. Don't miss RLPO Fridays

The Full Works Concert, Fridays 8pm. Throughout 2015 Classic FM is celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with exclusive concerts every Friday evening. In the opening concert on 9 January, Vasily Petrenko conducts some of the most popular Russian orchestral repertoire including an electrifying version of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.1 with soloist Simon Trpceski.

7. Experience Dudamel in London

The Full Works Concert, Wednesday 14 January-Thursday 15 January 8pm. Concerts given by the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel always sell like hot cakes. Classic FM is exclusively broadcasting their two concerts from the Royal Festival Hall in London. The first features Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and highlights from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The second includes Mahler’s epic Symphony No.5.

8. Enjoy A-list guests every Sunday afternoon

Charlotte Green's Culture Club, Sundays 3pm. Every week, Charlotte Green welcomes some of the biggest names from the arts world onto her show. Guests in January include actor Eddie Redmayne (pictured with Charlotte), who is hotly tipped to take the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Stephen Hawking in 'The Theory of Everything'. Other guests to listen out for include actors James Corden and Colin Firth, pianist Ji Liu and movie music composer Debbie Wiseman.

9. Celebrate Sir Simon Rattle's 60th birthday

The Full Works Concert, Monday 19 January 8pm. Jane Jones presents a special birthday concert of music conducted by this great British musician who is celebrating a landmark birthday. Rattle’s long-term relationship with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra was a defining one, and tonight we hear his performance of Sibelius Symphony No.5 with the CBSO.

10. Remembering Jackie

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Classical Music, Sunday 25 January 9pm. The brilliant cellist Jacqueline du Pre would have been 70 on 26 January 2015. Tonight, Catherine Bott showcases some of Du Pre's finest recordings while asking, 'Who are the greatest string players ever?' - from Tartini to Tortelier, Kreisler to Casals.